Tag: conquers

8.q. “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:5  And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Today, He is with us in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have His promise never to leave us or forsake us. We are assured He is preparing a place for us in heaven and that He is coming one day in power and great glory to fulfill all things. No, He has not abandoned us. Not by a long shot. But when the day arrives in which He brings the New Jerusalem down from heaven to earth, and He makes His home on the restored earth, we are to experience an intimacy with God not known since the days of Adam and Eve.

Yes, we still live in a sinful and fallen world, but the position of Christ at the Father’s right hand and the presence of the Holy Spirit as our guarantee of future resurrection and glorification provide the confidence we need to wait eagerly for Jesus’ return. Everything God touches He makes new.

Phillips, Rob. The Searcher’s Guide to the Apocalypse:

6.l. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door

Revelation 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Luke 12:36    and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

John 14:21-23    Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Notes from Reggie A. Braziel: Who is that is standing at the door of the human heart?  It is JESUS CHRIST who stands at the door of our heart and knocks. Its not the preacher. Its not the pope. Its not the president. It is JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD.  It is the DIVINE One knocking on the door of the HUMAN.  It is the SINLESS One knocking on the door the SINFUL .  It is the INNOCENT One knocking on the door of the GUILTY.

Many have believed this is a picture of Christ knocking on the heart’s door of the unsaved wanting to come in and bring salvation. But we must remember these verses in their proper context. Jesus spoke these words at the end of His letter to the “lukewarm” Church at Laodicea. So it isn’t the heart’s door of unbelievers Jesus is standing at, its the heart’s door of lukewarm , self-sufficient Christians.

You and I are “the keepers of our own heart’s door.” We decide who we will let into our heart and who we will keep out. We decide who we will accept into our heart as a friend and who we will reject as an enemy or a stranger.  Jesus wants “full access” to our heart, not some of it, not most of it, He wants access to all of our heart. He wants to be our LORD…….and our KING……and our VERY BEST FRIEND. But how much access He has to your heart and mine is entirely dependent upon us.

Jesus is pleading for our attention! He is pleading for us to “Hear His voice!” How do we hear the voice of Christ? Does He speak to us audibly? Does He speak to us through signs? How do we hear His voice? We hear His voice through THE HOLY SPIRIT who communicates to us through the word of GOD.  Do you ever struggle with a sense of dissatisfaction in your spiritual life as though you aren’t where you ought to be in your walk with Christ? Do you ever get the sense that you are stuck in a spiritual wilderness and your Christianity has become dry and barren? Do you ever come under the conviction that your life isn’t as “fruitful” and “productive” as it ought to be? Do you ever come under the conviction that Christ is calling you into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him?

Hearing is NOT enough! There must also be ACTION.  Jesus will never barge through the door to your heart.  You must listen, open, and invite Him in.  The life of a Christian without desiring Christ in your heart, mind, and soul results in a lukewarm life that is not worthy of the price that was paid for your sin.

6.i. I have set before you an open door

Revelation 3:8  “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Colossians 4:3     At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ,

1 Corinthians 16:9     for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

“I have set before you an open door”.  How many times do we miss the opened door?  Why is it the door to serving Christ seems wide open to others and not you?  The open door must be seen and trusted in through faith.  It is with faith eyes that we see doors/opportunities of serving and honoring Jesus Christ in our daily walk.  “Faith is the substance hoped for and evidence of things not seen”.  Only by faith can we attest to the open door before us.  We can miss opportunities if our faiths complacent and we neglect God’s Word.  We can miss open door opportunities if our eyes have been blinded by the bright shiny things of this world.  We can miss open door opportunities if our hears are deaf to the whispers of the Holy Spirit to our soul.  We can miss open door opportunities if we are not expecting and looking for them.  Sometimes we need to wait and not try to force open a door that is closed before us.  Other times we need to walk through that door full steam ahead.  How can we know which is right, wait or walkthrough?  Faith is in-line with God’s word.  Seeking and desiring to honor and serve Jesus Christ more than self.  Praying and asking God to confirm within us to wait or walkthrough.  We must set aside our self-reliance and self-centered ways.  People would like to think that an open door from Christ will mean prosperity, ease, and life without trials and troubles.  This is not true.  Sometimes our open door is walking into a lion’s den, or facing the Red Sea, or carrying our own cross.  The thing that matters is that the door we walk through is that we are not walking through on our own.  Christ is there in all of His power and will never leave us.  He is all-knowing so there are no surprises that He is not in control of.  He is ever-present and will accomplish His plans and purposes.  Spend time thinking about how many open door opportunities Jesus Christ has given to you today to serve, honor, and glorify Him.

6.b. Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

revelation 2:8   “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Habakkuk 2:3   For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Matthew 10:22     And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 10:28    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:4-7     And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

The Church of Smyrna was located within a city that worshipped the emperor and second, pagan gods.  They were mocked for believing.  They were living in poverty for believing.  They suffered for believing.  In this prophetic letter, written to them, they were told some of them would suffer prison and other testings/tribulations.  Some of these testings/tribulations would lead to or end up in the death of the believer.  “Do not fear what you are about to suffer” are the words of Jesus Christ to them.

Do we suffer at all for our beliefs?  Are we persecuted for our belief?  I really don’t think we are.  In fact, we may just be on the other side of this altogether, where we are blessed beyond all measure.  Where suffering and persecution are put aside and God’s protection against these types of trials keeps them away.  What kind of a believer would we be if this life of blessings was removed and suffering, trials, persecution, and tribulations were allowed into our life?  Would we stand firm?  Would we cling to, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ.  The Church of Smyrna was not warned about anything related to their conduct and lives as believers, their walk was firm.  Their belief was firm.  Their trust in Jesus Christ was firm.  Their hope was firm.  They were encouraged to stand firm and not be fearful of what was coming.  It is one thing to stand firm when you live in times of blessings and altogether different when living in a time of persecution, trials, suffering, poverty, and tribulation.  We would do well to learn to cast all worldly trusts aside and walk in humble service to Jesus Christ, with our eyes focused on Him not what the world has to offer.